Slackery News Tidbits, November 12

It's not too late to submit your last-minute film, web series, cross-media or other non-traditional web-based project to this year's SXSW Film Festival. Deadline for last minute entries is Thursday, November 15. For more information, visit the SXSW Film site.

In an effort to improve the moviegoing experience, Alamo Drafthouse has announced it will not admit late arrivals into any Austin theater once the film has started, beginning Jan. 3. If you're late, tickets bought in advance will be applied to other screenings or your money will be refunded.

In addition, honorees at the Fort Worth festival included Corsicana native Billy Joe Shaver and former Austinite John Hawkes. Shaver's career as a songwriter, whose work has appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Crazy Heart, won him the festival's Stephen Bruton Award. The award recognizes artists whose career, although anchored in music, includes achievement in film. Hawkes received the Lone Star Film Society's Maverick Award for his achievement in acting.

For those of you wondering why actors Val Kilmer and Rooney Mara "performed" onstage with the Black Lips during this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest, you can thank Texas filmmaker Terrence Malick, who was filming scenes for an untitled new movie, according to Pitchfork. What is known about the mysterious film is that it involves two intersecting love triangles set against the Austin music scene and stars Ryan Gosling, Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender, who were also at this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest, as well as Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale. Malick is also at work on the film Knight of Cups that is speculated to be linked to the untitled project, which stars many of the same actors.

Cinema41 is asking fans of former Austinites Joel and Ethan Coen to reserve a ticket through Tugg for a screening of the 1990 mob drama Miller's Crossing at 6:30 pm on Nov. 21 at Alamo South Lamar.

Finally, for your viewing pleasure: You can now watch Austin-based filmmaker John Merriman's 2002 feature directorial debut My Name is Buttons on Vimeo. Merriman co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred with Courtney Davis -- the two have appeared in many of former Austinite filmmaker Steve Collins' films together (Gretchen, You Hurt My Feelings).